While Kakuzu and Hidan set their sights on the Hidden Mist's Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, in the Land of Water, and while Itachi and Biwa Juzo headed to the Hidden Waterfall Village to confront the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, Fū, a massive dark shadow loomed over the Hidden Leaf Village.
Swish swish swish.
By the time the villagers noticed something amiss and looked up, a series of piercing sounds filled the air.
Looking down, they realized that what had fallen from the sky, embedding into the ground with a shrill whistle, were feathers.
Unlike ordinary feathers, these had tails that burned like lit fuses.
"What are these?"
Some villagers approached the feathers, curious to investigate.
Boom boom boom.
The next moment, the vibrant feathers exploded, igniting a sea of flames!
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the Hidden Leaf Village immediately went on high alert.
Large groups of Hidden Leaf shinobi took to the streets, some searching for the enemy, others tending to the wounded, extinguishing fires, or maintaining order and evacuating civilians.
Soon, the shinobi discovered that the attack was coming from the dark shadow overhead, but it was flying too high for conventional methods to reach.
In the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage stood with his hands behind his back, his face solemn as he gazed out the window.
Soon, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, the two advisory elders, rushed into the Hokage's office together.
Koharu asked, "What's the situation?"
The Third shook his head. "We're still investigating!"
Swish.
A member of the Third's Anbu appeared in the office, bowing to report, "Lord Hokage, the sensory team has confirmed that the creature attacking us from the air is Hiruko's fusion beast! This strongly suggests the attack is from the Akatsuki, and the assailant is likely Hiruko himself!"
Koharu snapped, "Traitor!"
Homura asked urgently, "Hiruzen, how do you plan to respond?"
Staring at the sky outside the window, the Third said, "We have a few Anbu with flight capabilities, but relying on them to handle Hiruko isn't realistic. We need to find a way to lure him down, and then—"
Boom!
Before the Third could finish, a loud explosion came from the village's outer wall, the shockwave strong enough to be felt even in the Hokage Building at the village's center.
"What's happening?"
Koharu and Homura rushed to the window, only to see a large section of the outer wall collapsed, with a massive monster appearing in their line of sight.
"That's…"
Koharu's expression darkened.
Even from a distance, staring at the ferocious monster, she could clearly sense the unmasked evil emanating from it!
"The demon Moryo!"
The Third recognized the creature at a glance.
Swish.
Another Anbu landed in the Hokage's office, reporting, "Lord Hokage, the village's outer wall is under attack by Akatsuki members. The sealing team has already headed there!"
Homura frowned. "The Akatsuki usually operates in pairs, don't they?"
Koharu said grimly, "Hiruko and the Hidden Mist traitor Kurosuki Raiga are one team, while Moryo and the rogue medic Shinno are another. That means at least two Akatsuki teams are attacking our Hidden Leaf! Is it really a coincidence? Just as we focus our forces to raid the Hidden Rain Village, the Akatsuki sends at least two teams to strike us?"
The Third shook his head. "It seems our surprise attack on the Hidden Rain Village has been exploited by them!"
Koharu's face changed. "If that's the case, there might be more than two Akatsuki teams attacking the village!"
Homura said, "Their target must be Naruto!"
The Third replied, "I've already entrusted Naruto's safety to Kakashi!"
Hearing this, Koharu and Homura felt slightly reassured. If there was anyone among the younger generation to rely on in a crisis, it was Kakashi.
Swish swish swish.
At that moment, several Anbu hurriedly arrived at the Hokage's office.
"Lord Hokage, the Akatsuki member Shinno has appeared at the breach in the outer wall!"
"Lord Hokage, Hiruko has infiltrated the village streets!"
"Lord Hokage, the Hidden Sand traitor Sasori of the Red Sand has appeared at the village gate!"
After reporting one after another, the Anbu stepped aside, awaiting the Third's orders.
"Three teams!"
Koharu's expression grew even grimmer.
Homura analyzed, "Moryo and Shinno are at the outer wall breach, Sasori is at the village gate, Deidara might be nearby, and Hiruko has infiltrated the streets—he's the most dangerous and must be dealt with first!"
After a brief pause, the Third began issuing orders. "Notify the Hyuga clan and have Hizashi head to the outer wall breach to deal with Shinno. Assemble the 'Ino-Shika-Cho' trio to hunt down Hiruko. Send a team of Anbu to support Shibi, and have him rally the Aburame clan to confront Sasori!"
"Yes!"
The Anbu awaiting orders responded and immediately set out to carry them out.
Koharu cautiously probed, "Danzo may have made mistakes, but in times like these, shouldn't we let him contribute?"
Without Danzo as the scapegoat drawing attention, Koharu and Homura's positions among the village's leadership had become increasingly precarious, so they saw this as an opportunity to give Danzo a chance to return.
The Third naturally understood Koharu's intentions but shook his head. "Let's wait and see."
The Hidden Leaf was vast and powerful, not something a few Akatsuki members could easily topple. What he truly feared was the Akatsuki leader, Nagato, and the Mangekyo Uchihas within the organization capable of unleashing Susanoo.
Having repeatedly reviewed the Battle of the Land of Grass, he knew full well that if the battlefield shifted to the Hidden Leaf Village, a full-scale assault from the Akatsuki could destroy the entire village.
Feathers continued to rain from the sky, triggering explosions one after another!
Shouts of alarm, cries of despair, and screams of terror merged into waves of sound, adding to the chaos of the flame-lit, smoke-filled streets.
In the detention cell of the Anbu building.
Sasuke, gripping the iron bars, asked, "What's happening outside?"
The Anbu guard replied, "I'm not sure, but it seems someone's attacking the village."
Sasuke urged urgently, "Let me out!"
The Anbu shook his head. "Without the Third's orders, I can't release you!"
"Let him out!"
Suddenly, a voice came from the distance, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Sasuke looked through the bars and saw Kakashi approaching with Naruto in tow. He asked, "Kakashi, what's going on out there?"
Through the iron bars, Kakashi fixed his gaze on Sasuke's face and said, "The Akatsuki is attacking the village, and their target is Naruto! Sasuke, tell me—what is your choice?"